June 1st – Jantar Mantar + Qutb Minar

Across from our hotel was Jantar Mantar, a fascinating group of red structures that were built as instruments for measuring time.

Jantar Mantar – Misra Yantra

Functions: Measuring the altitude of the sun, measuring time in hours, and measuring the longitude of the moon and measures to the nearest minute of an arc.

Jantar Mantar – Samrat Yantra

Function: Measures local time, much like a sundial.

Jantar Mantar – Ram Yantra

Function: Measures horizontal and vertical angles of the sun and moon.

Inside view of Ram Yantra

After our visit to Jantar Mantar we went to see the Qutb Minar complex. At the Qutb complex there were amazing archways full of calligraphic inscriptions and patterns. Some of the pillars holding up the surrounding structures had traces of Hindu gods and goddesses left over from before their disfiguration. (Islamic art and structures are not allowed to depict human or animal figures.)